Adelaide United have made the most of their chances to topple Brisbane Roar 3-1 in National Youth League action at the Cleveland Showgrounds on Saturday afternoon.
Adelaide United have made the most of their chances to topple Brisbane Roar 3-1 in National Youth League action at the Cleveland Showgrounds on Saturday afternoon.
Adelaide never trailed, opening the scoring in the 20th minute before the Roar levelled proceedings eight minutes before the break.
But the Reds re-took the lead through Ricardo Silva’s goal in the 80th and then put the icing on the cake with another goal four minutes from time.
Brisbane controlled the majority of the contest, taking the lion’s share of possession and looking confident of securing the points until Adelaide’s late surge.
Matthew Thurtell was the goal-scorer for Brisbane and could have had a crucial double if he hadn’t been denied by the post in the second half.
Former Mariner Nicholas Fitzgerald was exceptional in attack for the Roar, linking well with Rocky Visconte on the left-hand flank and creating Brisbane’s goal with some individual flair.
Brisbane started confidently, riding high after a first-round victory over 2010-11 National Youth League champions Gold Coast.
They were also energised by the inclusion of Hyundai A-League-credentialed attackers Visconte and James Meyer.
A turnover from Kenneth Dougall gifted United a prime opportunity in the 15th minute, but Teeboy Kamara failed to convert a one-on-one chance under pressure from on-rushing Roar keeper Matt Acton.
Kamara didn’t have to wait long for his second opportunity, with over-age selection Fabian Barbiero finding space on the right and then playing the perfect cross for his striker to push bottom-left to open scoring.
The same combination went within a inches of doubling the lead in identical circumstances moments later, before Brisbane found their composure and began to take back control of possession.
Luke Brattan curled a free-kick onto the head of George Lambadis at the half-hour mark, but United keeper Mark Birighitti did exceptionally well to make a reflex save and then smother the follow-up effort.
Fitzgerald continued to look dangerous on the left-hand flank and in the 37th minute the former Mariners youth star delivered his new side the equaliser, beating his defender off the dribble and playing the perfect cross for Thurtell to pump into the back of the net.
The Roar substituted Visconte and Meyer during the interval and Fitzgerald with over half an hour remaining, but remained confident as their opponents looked to be showing signs of frustration.
With Brisbane appearing confident, Adelaide’s moment came late, with Da Silva completing a fluid build-up with a clinical finish.
Jake Monaco rubbed salt into the wounds with a clean right-foot strike to register a third in the 86th minute.
Brisbane 1 (Thurtell 37)
Adelaide 3 (Teeboy 20, Da Silva 80, Monaco 86)
